I've used it in some CHA projects...I stamped my background in olive archival & then inked the entire background with the sage...

YUM! you'll be seeing LOTS of it!

#2...Could you do a count down to CHA (helps those of us impatient people who need a visual.

Hmmm....I leave on Friday the 22nd, so I would expect to see LOTS of REVEALS the few days before then...Does that help?

#3...you did a contest for us last time...we had to guess the number of stamps. i didn't win. are you doing that for us again? when? i don't want to miss it.

YOU BET!! That was fun. That too will be close to the 22nd...stay tuned! I'll see what I can get us for prizes...

I'm HOPING inks and rubber!Just what we NEED!

#4...I need to find that magazine. Any clues?I have a subscription now, but I originally got a copy @ Barnes & Noble. I'd say...check there!

#5...The sneak peeks are killin' me. Four you say? Hmm, new flower in the corner, background, another ART stamp, the scroll stamp is a staple of mine.

and from another...

Hhhmmm...could it be wings, or the edges to a flower petal??

WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! There are NO flowers in the peek...

nope...not wings either...

the text is NOT a background stamp...

art...OK...that one is right

look again...I'd suggest the lower left ...hint!

#6...just a comment, but we both had to laugh...And, thanks to Rick. Keep that sweet lady of yours in line!now there's a FULL TIME JOB! ha! TOTALLY Hopeless!

#7...I am loving what I can see in your sneak peek. I sure am hoping to see a houndstooth print

Here's a HUGE hint...you'll be HAPPY, Penci! It's in a set called...well worn art

#8...I hope you remember me, I'm the one who asked for a larger rose. Did you make us one?

And a HUGE hint for you...you'll be double-x2 HAPPY, Ms Dee! And larger is easier to make! TRUST ME!

#9...when will you show us your Maya Road samples?

I'll do that just as soon as I get the word from Caroline...she's the BOSS! I'm hoping next week?

and the last for today...

#10...I'm wondering if you could share more about your creative process for new stamps. How long does it take you to come up with fresh ideas? Where do you get your inspiration? Do you sketch the designs and have someone "make up" the artwork? The time span between CHA Summer and Winter seems so short....I just wonder how you do it all!!!

First of all...remember that Rick gets groceries, gets us carry out dinners and vacuums!

Seriously...the ideas basically come from NEEDS...when I'm working on a project, I think...

Geez...I wish I had a long skinny filler stamp for this area...hmmm now we will

or...

I wish I had a background that would coordinate with this...and we will!

One of my flower ideas was inspired by a home decor item. Home decor magazines are very inspiring for color combos too...not that I actually use them... you know me...I stick to my basic colors...

The solid flower imageon Artfully Said, came about because of a need in my Ranger technique workshop.

There are techniques in that workshop that really need a stamp of that type. Now we have it!

I try to make them versatile...so that they can be used multiple ways.

Before studio 490, I'd think...geez, I wish the leaves stamp faced the other way. That's why I do the same image as the mirror image lots of times. I like the option of both ways & I think that's good for collage type art.

I needed a more bold image background that really showcased that technique...with this new release ...WE have it! YIPPEE!

I like vintage stuff too...so those things sparked some stamp ideas ...again...THIS RELEASE!

This release is NOT all about flowers...but the designs were made to work with the sets we already have.

So once my sketches/ideas are emailed to Zach @ Stampers Anonymous, he's the genius who transforms them into PDF files which are then made into, mag plates...which if I understand it right, are the reverse stamp images. Then a sheet of rubber is layed over the mag plate & pressed or vulcanized into the mag plate @ a high temp and that's what makes the actual rubber stamp.

There may be more steps...but my little brain pictures this as the process.

Then the new stamp sheets get stuck on the cling material (which sticks to the acrylic blocks) and they are individually cut with some sort of scroll saw @ the factory.

I have met Joyce who cuts stamps and she said after she does a few of the new designs & gets her rhythm, she can zip right along.

But think of the MILLIONS of stamps that must be cut every year. Can you imagine???What a JOB!

One thing we REALLY want to do this year is to visit the factory in Cleveland...meet the folks I deal with, but have not met yet.

We really want to see how the whole process is done...and to see stamps..HOT OFF THE PRESS!

Geez...how exciting!

We both think that would be a fun trip & a good info for a blog post! I'd even take my camera!

Thanks for all the up-dates, Wendy. I love that your stamps are made in the USA. That is one of my resolutions, to try and purchase items (craft and household) made in America. We have to keep ourselves employed!

What a great post. Thanks for sharing. Love Susan's angel. Really beautiful. I can't wait to see your new stamps. Sounds like they are going to be really cool. Love the vintage look too. Can't wait to see more. It looks like the stamps will coordinate with all that Graphic 45 is coming up with too. Going to need lots of money.

Wendy, U are the angel! Thanks so much for your contributions to the world of stamping - am on pins & needles waiting to see what's just out of sight for us. The angel was fun and part of a challenge on your Yahoo group. Have just finished 2 more pieces - gotta have an identity tag (or 2) so the rest of the world will know me as a super big fan of yours.

I can not stop thinking about Joyce cutting all those millions of stamps.. . that is a ton of work she deserves a dozen roses in a vase. . .

I love vintage I am looking forward to seeing those.

Those three colors of ink are beautiful together and do we get a measuring tape and a tag as new stamps. I get lost in seeing all the designs can not remember what is old and because they all look new when you see them in a sneak peak!

WOW! Lots of fun information and clues in this post. I just love visiting factories and seeing how things are made. We got to visit a lace factory in Germany which was UBER cool. I'm an egghead that way. :)

Susan's angel is just AWESOME!! Very talented lady, and nice to eat breakfast with...lol...Ok, ok, so the text isn't a background stamp, but I bet the little tiny dots/dashes or whatever are. And so it's not a flower, I'm guessing...leaves? Ok, and in the newest peak, I see a lot of numbers, is there a set called Fractionally Art? lol. And a round tag of some sort...this thinkin' is too much work, back to my real job.....oh, hey, since I'm kind of in your neck of the woods, can I give Rick my grocery list? I would be willing to pay for delivery....

Thanks Wendy for your kindness to the visually impatient! Looking forward to more peeks. I do like that color combo with the Sage. I hope the new colors will be in stores soon after CHA (any estimates?) That Rick sounds amazing, is he able to leap tall cabinets in a single bound? LOL

Great sneak peeks, I am so excited about your CHA releases. Took the distress ink class with you in Madison this November and learned so much. ok, I have to giggle at the typo "vulva"nized.....lol. Gave me a big smile for the day.

Wendy, I love the Angel!!!! I also want to thank you for all the sneak peeks!!!! I agree with Kat, when you come see Ted, maybe have a class or two or three???? PLEASE!!!!! I forgot to thank Rick yesterday for helping us out, by getting you to give us a few peeks!!! Can't wait to see it all!!!How soon will we be able to purchase the new items?

**sits wondering if there is anyway of sneaking into the Vecchi house to have a proper snoop at these new stamps that are driving me INSANE!!!!**

I cannot wait...literally, I cannot wait for the day that we can see these new designs...I know, I should be patient..but ... who needs patience when there are some new Wendy Vecchi sets to be had...they are nearly ready...I am nearly busting a gut being patient....so.........

THANK YOU for feeding this delirium of mine with the little peeps at the new stuff...without these I fear I would spontaneously self combust ROFL

**BTW, the thing about snooping...in your house... I wouldn't do that...honestly...I wouldn't... instead I would befriend a little mouse and get him to do it for me...of course, he would have to be incredibly intelligent**

***Wanders off to have more medication***

Wendy hun, thank you for the sneaky peeks...and that Rusty Hinge is on my shopping list already LOL xx

There's only 2 new stamps in the pic??? I thought maybe 3... the piece that is rusty hinge (a circle shaped ad of some sort?), the piece that is tumbled glass ( a crown shape with numbers?), and the bundled sage piece with the fraction increments... very cool. I've been looking in your book at all the stamp sheets and can't find these 3... what am I missing?

I love this entire post! Susan's piece is beautiful! Your peeks, your descriptions of the stamp process - whatever that stamp is with the Rusty Hinge DI most definitely looks like a must-have! I often wish January to go by fast with the work I do, but this year? Oh, that wish is for fun, too - your stamps so give me something good to look forward to!

OMG...I so love the art doll!!! Between you and Tim with your sneak peeks (master and mistress of torture you both are)...I'm gonna need a bigger drool bucket, as well as a 2nd job!! Can't wait to see the new goodies. Hisses, Rockin Robin Caldwell

I am speechless...love the new Distress ink colors. I picked out the same colors today at Michael's from their new bins...the rusty, the sagey and the seaglassy blue! Just beautiful together! And about those peeks...any chance that we're getting something like a "Wendy styled" Game card/bingo card? And Wendy markers too (i.e. l'il flowers)? I'd love to see a set with scissors in it too some day...just sayin' :)

Thanks for sharing Susan's angel with us...she's fabulous. I can't imagine where you found the time to answer all the questions. Are days in Illinois longer than 24 hours? I'm luvin' all the sneak peeks but my eyes are growing weary trying to find all those mystery stamps! The suspense is mounting each day.